Document direction-changing device

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure describes a technique for changing the direction of documents, such as mail pieces, being transported in single file at high speed. The flat surface of the document may be characterized as having two mutually perpendicular axes directed respectively along the length and width thereof. In accordance with the aforementioned technique, apparatus is provided whereby a document having initial high speed motion in a direction parallel to one of its axes, is caused to abruptly assume motion of similar speed in a direction parallel to the other of its axes. Stated succinctly, the technique is especially useful in applications requiring a document travelling at high speed to change direction through substantially a 90* angle within parallel planes - the direction change being effected in a prescribed limited portion of the initial path of travel.

United States Patent 1191 Wojtowicz et al.

[451 Apr. 23, 1974 1 DOCUMENT DIRECTION-CHANGING DEVICE [73] Assignee: Burroughs Corporation, Detroit,

Mich.

22 Filed: Oct. 30, 1972 21 Appl. N6: 302,022

Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner.1ames W. Miller Attorney, Agent, or FirmF. A. Varallo; E. J. Feeney, Jr.; P. W. Fish [5 7 ABSTRACT The present disclosure describes a technique for changing the direction of documents, such as mail pieces, being transported in single file at high speed. The flat surface of the document may be characterized as having two mutually perpendicular axes directed respectively along the length and width thereof. In accordance with the aforementioned technique, apparatus is provided whereby a document having initial high speed motion in a direction parallel to one of its axes, is caused to abruptly assume motion of similar speed in a direction parallel to the other of its axes. Stated succinctly, the technique is especially useful in applications requiring a document travelling at high speed to change direction through substantially a 90 angle within parallel planes the direction change being effected in a prescribed limited portion of the initial path of travel.

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PATENTEDAPR 23 I974 V-(IN/SEC) SHEET 6 OF 7 PATENTEDAFR 23 1974 SHEET 7 OF 7 DOCUMENT DIRECTION-CHANGING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In document sorting machines, the need often arises to impart a 90 direction change, within parallel planes to the moving documents. For documents travelling at high velocity and rate of flow, and having a considerable range of parameters for length, width, thickness and weight, the problem of effecting a direction change within a limited distance of travel becomes rather acute.

In an actual operative system utilizing the present invention, mail pieces moving at speeds of 192 inches per second, and entering the direction changing apparatus at rates up to 12 documents per second in a horizontal direction, oriented lengthwise, were successfully and reliably diverted to a vertical (downward) direction, oriented widthwise, at the same velocity. Moreover, documents of up to a maximum length of 11.5 inches were caused to change direction within 0.5 inches after contacting the vertical transport means associated with the direction changing device. The full range of document lengths handled by the sorting machine in said actual system, fall within the confines ofa 12-inch length portion of the device, after the change in direction is completed.

The present invention substantially eliminates the problem of direction changing and is admirably suited for a wide variety of applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In an actual operative'system in which documents moving lengthwise in a horizontal direction are diverted to a vertical direction, oriented widthwise, the main components of the direction-changing device employed therein are as follows. Horizontally moving vacuum belts positioned adjacent vacuum chambers provide a single-sided support for the documents as they are moved into the changer apparatus. A cam mechanism operating synchronously actuates a pusher assembly to strip the documents from the horizontal vacuum belts in a direction to have them contact a vertically moving flighted vacuum belt system with its associated vacuum chamber. Other features and advantages of the I invention will become apparent in the detailed description appearing hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 illustrates by way of example, one mode of document direction change capable of being effected by the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation end view of the present document direction changer device.

FIG. 3 is a section view of the device taken along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is another section view of the device taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is still another section view of the device taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the horizontal phase relationship between the document and pusher assembly for an initial condition of operation.

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6 except that a succeeding condition of operation is illustrated.

FIG. 8 is similar to each of the preceding two Figures except that a third stage of operation is shown.

FIG. 9 is a graph depicting pusher velocity plotted against elapsed time and pusher excursion.

FIG. I0 is a schematic illustration ofthe vertical phase relationship between the pusher assembly and the flight pins of the vertical belt system for an initial condition of operation.

FIG. 1 l is similar to FIG. 10 except that a succeeding condition of operation is depicted.

FIG. 12 is similar to the preceding two Figures except that a third condition of operation is depicted.

FIG. 13 is an elevation view of a direction changer apparatus similar in function to the device illustrated in FIG. 2 but having the capability of handling dual inpu streams of documents.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates diagrammatically the function of the present invention in the aforementioned operative system. The documents or mail pieces 11 are depicted as moving in a horizontal direction along their lengthwise or horizontal axes. At a predetermined point in their travel, their motion is abruptly changed to a vertical (downward) direction along their widthwise or vertical axes. It should be understood that the foregoing direction change from horizontal to downward vertical motion as performed by the arrangement of the apparatus described hereinafter, has been chosen solely for purposes of illustrating an application of the invention, but that the invention is not to be construed as being so limited. Depending upon the specific application of the present device, a variety of direction changes may be effected thereby. Accordingly, the techniques and apparatus described herein may be modified as required by persons skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Before proceding with a description of the operation of the direction-changing device, the structural details of the device will be described with reference to FIGS. 2-5inclusive, each of which illustrate the following. FIG. 2isan overall end view of the direction changer. FIG. 3 is a section view derived from FIG. 2 which depicts the pusher assembly, horizontal vacuum belt system, and the associated vacuum chambers. FIG. 4 is a section view derived from FIG. 2 which details the vertical vacuum belt system and the vertical vacuum chamber. FIG. 5, a section view derived from FIG. 3, is similar to the end view of FIG. 2, but differs therefrom in its illustration of the horizontal and vertical vacuum chambers which are more or less obscured in FIG. 2 by the horizontal belts and the brush assembly.

With general reference to FIG. 2, and specific reference to the other FIGS. 3-5 inclusive for the components illustrated therein, the direction changer device is depicted as being mounted between a pair of lower support members 10a and 10b and a pair of upper support members 12a and 12b. The horizontal vacuum belt assembly as seen in FIG. 3 comprises three belts 14 mounted between two sets of pulleys 16a and 16b, the sets of pulleys being mounted respectively on shafts 18a and 18b situated respectively at opposite ends of the changer. As seen in FIG. 3, one of the shafts 18b is driven by a belt 20 coupled to a power source, not shown. The belts 14 which have a series of holes 22 therein, traverse respectively the face portions of three vacuum chambers 24, interconnected by passageways 25. The chambers are serviced in common through a tube 26 connected to a vacuum source, such as a positive displacement pump, not shown. The face portions of the vacuum chambers 24 have elongated slots 28 therein, each slot having a plurality of apertures 30 leading into the chamber.

A cam-operated horizontal pusher assembly is depicted which is comprised of four pusher rails 32 affixed to a common supporting structure 34. The upper flanges 36 of the structure are attached respectively to block-like members 38. The last-mentioned members have central apertures 40 fitted with bushings 42 for mounting on shafts 44 on which they are slidably disposed. U-shaped members 37 support the shafts 44. The pusher rail supporting structure 34 contains a slotted area 46 which is adapted to receive a bracket 48 having an aperture 50 therein for mounting the shaft 52 of a cam follower 54. The cam follower 54 engages a barrel cam 56 which is mounted by ball bearings 58 on a shaft 60, and is driven by power means not depicted. The cam assembly is supported by brackets 62 affixed to the upper support members 12a and 12b.

The vertical vacuum belt assembly, as best illustrated in FIG. 4, comprises six timing belts 64, having a series of perforations 68. The belts 64 situated on pulleys 70 traverse the face portion of the vertical vacuum chamber 72 which is serviced through a tube 74 to the aforementioned vacuum source. The vacuum chamber is supported between members a and 10b by brackets 73 and 75. The vertical belts 64 lie in slots 76 in the face portions of the vacuum chamber 72 so that the upper surfaces of the belts lie slightly below the adjoining surface portions of the chamber lying between the belts. The far edge 77 of each of slotted areas as seen by the incoming document is beveled so as not to obstruct the document motion. Moreover, as explained in greater detail hereinafter, the timing teeth 78 of the belts 64 have been modified by removal of the midportions thereof so as to permit the sections of these belts bearing the perforations 68 to be contiguous with the surface of the islands 80, one for each belt, formed in the face portions of the vacuum chamber. The remaining tooth portions as seen in the view of the underside of a vertical belt appearing in FIG. 4 straddle the island. The island contains elongated slots 82 similar to those in the horizontal vacuum chambers 24, each slot having apertures 84 leading into the chamber. The belts are provided with flight pins 86 and the document guide plate 88 (FIG. 3) contains slots 90 to accommodate the passage of the pins. A document limit or stop 91 appears at the far end of the changer device.

A brush assembly comprised of three rotating brushes 92 mounted on a common shaft 94 are simultaneously driven by a belt 96 coupled to a power source, not shown. The belt assembly is mounted on a C- shaped bracket 98, which in turn is affixed to the lower support member 10a.

The operation of the direction-changing device of the present invention may thus be described with continued reference to FIGS. 2-5 inclusive. The documents 11 whose direction is to be altered are assumed to be transported to the direction changer by positively driven synchronizer belts, not shown. They enter the device in a direction parallel to their horizontal axes. In the operative system depicted in the drawing, they are conveyed into the device by a horizontal vacuum belt system comprised of three parallel side-by-side horizontally moving vacuum belts 14 having a series of perforations 22 through which vacuum pressure is exerted on the documents. The purpose of the horizontal vacuum belts 14 is to provide a single-sided support for the documents 11 as they are transported, such that they can be readily stripped off during the directionchanging phase. The angular displacement of the horizontal belts 14 from the vertical (approximately 8) coincides with the like displacement of the vertical belts 64, and serves to properly orient the documents 11 for transfer onto the vertical belts.

The three horizontal belts 14 which may be constructed of woven fabric, enclose respectively three interconnected vacuum chambers 24. The document 11 is held to the belts 14 by a force equivalent to the pressure difference multiplied by the total area of belt perforations 22 exposed to the document as it contacts the three belts. In the aforementioned operative system, a vacuum chamber pressure of about 8 inches of mercury is exerted by 4: inch diameter orifice holes spaced at 2 /2 inch intervals in the face of the chamber contiguous with the moving belts. The chamber orifice holes 30 lie within elongated 'counterbores 28, thereby permitting the vacuum pressure to be exerted in such a way that it can act on the belts perforations over the length of the counterbores. The horizontal belt system provides continuous support for the document as it moves into the direction changer, since as one set of holes in the belts leaves a counterbore in the vacuum chamber manifold, another set of holes will enter.

The documents are arranged in accordance with well known techniques, to arrive at the direction-changing device synchronously, in a trailing edge-registered condition. As seen in FIG. 3, the device includes a pusher assembly comprised of four pusher rails 32 which intermesh with the continuously running horizontal belts 14. The rails are affixed to a supporting structure 34, which in turn is attached to a pair of members 38, slidably mounted on respective shafts 44. The structure 34 also includes bracket means 48 for supporting a cam follower 54. The cam follower 54 contacts the barrel cam 56- the latter operating synchronously by drive means (not shown) and having a cycloidal acceleration profile. Asthe cam follower traces the profile 55 of the cam 56 during its rotation, the structure 34 and the pusher rails 32 are moved in a direction approximately perpendicular to the surfaceof the horizontal belts 14, such that the pusher rails 32 are alternately extended above and retracted below the surface of the belts 14.

In addition to the horizontal vacuum belt system and the pusher assembly, another major component of the direction changer apparatus is the vertical belt system. The system which as seen in FIG. 4 comprises a plurality of vertical belts 64 and a vacuum chamber 72 will be described in detail hereinafter.

As each document 11 enters the device, the pusher assembly is at the dwell portion of the cam profile, that is, the pusher rails 32 are fully retracted below the surface of the horizontal belts 14. At a predetermined time, prior to the actual coincidence of the document trailing edge with the pusher rails, the cam 56 through the action of follower 54, commences to extend the pusher rails above the surface of the horizontal belts, and in so doing strips the document from the hold of the horizontal vacuum belt systemin a direction to cause it to contact the vertical belts 64. The phasing of the direction changing operation is considered in detail hereinafter. It will suffice to mention at this time that the document 1 1 continues to exhibit horizontal movement during the extension of the pusher rails 32. The excursion of the pusher rails 32 imparts to the document a velocity in a direction perpendicular to its initial motion in a horizontal plane. The document then makes contact with the vertical belt system at this velocity, aided somewhat by the partial vacuum created thereon by the vertical belt vacuum chamber 72.

The vertical vacuum belt system as seen in FIG. 4 which in the aforementioned operative system transports the document in a downward direction, is comprised of six timing belts 64. These belts lie recessed in mated slots 76 in the face portion of the vertical vacuum chamber 72. This arrangement provides a deceleration surface in which portions of the incoming documents 11 are drawn into the slots 76 by the vacuum pressure and assume a corrugated shape. Each of the belts 64 is perforated with a series of inch diameter holes 68, to permit a vacuum force to act upon the documents which contact the belts in the area of the vacuum chamber. The belts are fitted with steel flight pins 86 approximately /8 inches long, and one-fourth inch in diameter and located on 16-inch pitches. As will be more apparent in the description of the vertical phase relationship of the flight pins and the pusher assembly, which follows hereinafter, the purpose of the pins 86 is to assure that document synchronism is maintained, since the movement of each document is restrained to an area between adjacent pins. As indicated in FIG. 4, the timing belt teeth 78 which normally traverse the width of the belt have been modified to permit a vacuum seal to exist between the face portion of the vacuum chamber 72 and the perforations 68 in the belt. Moreover, the tooth modification adds some lateral guidance to the belt at the position of the chamber. The midsection of each tooth 78 has been removed down to its root depth.

Those face portions of the vertical vacuum chamber 72 which are contiguous with the perforated sections of the vertical belts 64 are constructed as elongated islands 80 which mate respectively with the apertures formed by the removal of the belt tooth midsections. The remaining tooth portions on both sides of the midsection straddle the island and ride in respective grooves thereby effecting the aforementioned vacuum seal and lateral belt guidance. The island face surfaces 80 of the vacuum chamber 72 contain one-sixteenth inch orifice holes 84 within thin elongated counterbores 82. A vacuum pressure of 5 inches of mercury supplied through port 74 by a positive displacement pump was found to be satisfactory to fulfill maximum requirements.

Continuing a description of the operation, the extension of the pusher rails 32 as previously described, causes each document 11 to be thrust onto the vertically moving belts 64 at a point between the flight pins 86. Air movement into the vertical vacuum chamber 72 causes a partial vacuum to exist between the document 11 and the vertical belts 64 which aids in accelerating the document toward the belts. When the document contacts the vertical belts, it experiences a braking force which brings its horizontal velocity to zero, and concurrently, a vertical downward accelerating force which brings the document to the vertical belt velocity within the chamber length. The braking force is the result of the vertical vacuum force, the belt high frictional coefficient, and most significantly, the corrugated geometry imparted to the document by the vacuum chamber-to-belt relationship. Energy must be expended to overcome the corrugations in order to obtain motion in a horizontal direction. Vertically, the corrugations are in line with the movement.

It should be noted that in an operative system, the direction-changing device of the present invention processed documents which varied considerably in weight. For example, assuming that the documents are letters which vary in weight from 0.1 ounce to 3 ounces, and that the documents enter the direction changer with a constant velocity, a 30 to l variation in document energy exists between the lightweight and heavyweight documents. The effect of this energy variation for documents of constant area is that the deceleration distance varies. Lightweight documents are decelerated in a very short distance, while the heavier documents may reach the stop 91 at the extremity of the vertical vacuum chamber 72. The documents which are not completely decelerated upon reaching the end of the chamber, impact the document stop 91 which absorbs their remaining kinetic energy. The latter action prevents the mail pieces from rebounding out of the chamber, while at the same time the deceleration rate is such that no damage is evident on the impacted leading edge of the document. The vertical chamber 72 is extended below the point of document entry into the changer apparatus to provide the required horizontal deceleration during the time that the document moves vertically. A document guide plate 88, having six slots (FIG. 3) to accommodate the passage of the flight pins therethrough, is located at the lower end of the changer device and helps to maintain the orientation of the documents. A second guide member 93 aids in orientation after the documents have left the device.

In order that the direction change be correctly executed by the changer device, horizontal and vertical phasing of the documents with respect to the camoperated pusher rails 32 must receive consideration.

In a horizontal sense, the leading edge of the document arriving at the changer device must be positioned with respect to the pusher such that the proper lateral motion of the document can be effected when the pusher motion is initiated. Moreover, the document 11 must contact the vertical belts 64 in a manner such that after the termination of horizontal deceleration, the trailing edge of the document is within the confines of the l2-in. chamber. In order to accomplish the latter, the arrival of documents at the vertical belts after the conclusion of pusher motion must be such as to permit adequate deceleration distance from the maximum length, maximum mass, minimum aspect ratio (length to width) documents. Such documents possess maximum document energy with minimum braking force. Maximum deceleration of minimum mass, maximum area documents must be provided in order to insure full entry of these documents into the chamber.

In the present system, the documents are assumed to arrive at the direction changer synchronously, in a trailing edge-registered condition. This implies that the leading edge of the documents with respect to the pusher rails 32 location is a variable. In mail pieces, the document length may vary, for example, from 4.25 inches to l 1.5 inches. In the aforementioned operative system, the direction changer operated satisfactorily with various length and weight documents when the trailing edge of the document was caused to be 14.75 inches from the inner chamber stop at the threshold of pusher motion. This condition is illustrated schematically in FIG. 6 where the document trailing edge is 14.75 inches away from the chamber limit 91. The document chosen for purpose of description is assumed to be 8 inches long, 6 inches wide, and is .008 inches thick. The horizontal input velocity along direction Y is 192 inches per second which corresponds to a rate of 12 documents per second. The document in FIG. 6 overlaps the pusher rails by 4.32 inches. Under these initial conditions, even a minimum length, minimum thickness document, that is 4.25 inches in length and .008 inches in thickness, would overlap the pusher rails by 0.57 inches and would be well under the control thereof. The pusher motion profile illustrated in FIG. 9 is a graph of velocity in inches/second plotted against time in milliseconds and displacement in inches in the Z direction. In the condition illustrated in FIG. 6, the pusher parameters are at the origin of the graph in FIG. 9 and represent the threshold of motion for the pusher.

FIG. 7 represents the next succeeding event chosen for illustration. The pusher is shown at its mid-stroke position which is about 0.38 inches from its initial reference point. It has thrust the document in the Z direction approximately 0.38 inches with a Z direction velocity of 80 inches per second, as shown in FIG. 9. Also according to FIG. 9, 9.85 milliseconds have elapsed since the condition illustrated in FIG. 6, and concurrent with the pusher excursion, the document has travelled 1.89 inches in the 'Y direction toward the chamber limit 91. The document is now 4.86 inches from this limit.

FIG. 8 illustrates the initial impact of the document with the vertical vacuum belts 64 at a time 19.7 milliseconds from the threshold of pusher motion. The document has travelled l.25 inches in the Z direction. The pusher, shown at its maximum extended position of 0.75 inches, had separated from the document after it had reached its mid-stroke position because of the deceleration characteristic imposed upon it by the cam profile 55. This characteristic is apparent in FIG. 9. Concurrent with its motion toward, and its impact with, the vertical belts, the document 1 1 has continued to advance in the Y direction so that its trailing edge is now 10.75 inches from the chamber limit 91. The leading edge is 2.75 inches from the limit. Thus the document has advanced a total of four inches from the initial condition depicted in FIG. 6. This distance will vary slightly with the thickness of the document, and may be approximately 3.5 inches for maximum thickness documents (that is, approximately 0.25 inches).

The case of maximum length l 1.5 inches) minimum thickness (.008 inches) documents requires special mention. It is apparent from the foregoing phasing diagrams that the leading edge of such a maximum length document is only 3.25 inches from the chamber limit at the threshold of pusher motion. Since the travel in the Y direction for such a document is four inches, the document would appear to collide with the inner chamber limit before it impacts the vertical vacuum belts. The changer device of the present invention has handled such documents reliably and the following theories, considered either individually or in combination, are offered to explain such successful operation apparently in the absence of deceleration of these documents on the vertical belts.

The first explanation of such operation is that the maximum length documents impact the inner chamber limit 91 and their energy is absorbed in a momentary collapse of the leading edge of the document. The function of the vertical vacuum belts 64 then is to grip the document after impact with the inner chamber limit thus preventing rebound from the chamber. The document would then retract from its collapsed condition after leaving the vertical vacuum chamber 72. A second explanation is that the document is actually accelerated from inches/second to some higher velocity by the effect of the low pressure created by the vertical vacuum chamber 72. If this were the case, arrival at the vertical vacuum belts would be completed in much less time than that calculated. Impact at the vertical vacuum belts 64 before reaching the inner chamber limit 91 would be assured for all document lengths.

The vertical phasing required for the operation of the present direction-changing device will now be considered. In the relationship between the pusher rails 32 and the flight pins 86 located on the vertical vacuum belts 64, the flight pins must contact the document 11 before the document accelerates to vertical belt velocity (which is 16 feet/second in the operative embodiment). If enough time were allowed, a document after initial contact with the vertical belts would reach belt velocity because of the frictional forces between the belts and the document. However, pin-to-document contact is required before the document reaches belt velocity on its own, because the pins initially orient the document and act to control the orientation of the document in its travel downward, thereby minimizing the skewing thereof. While the document is under the influence of the vacuum forces created by the vertical vacuum chamber 72, gravity does not cause a further acceleration which might result in separation of the document from the flight pin. After the document leaves the area of the vertical vacuum chamber, some means of exerting a small frictional force on the documents, such as leaf springs 87, located between the belts 64, may be required to maintain the orienting control of the flight pins 86. The small frictional force exerted by these springs tends to negate the effect of gravity and therefore prevents separation of the documents from the pins.

Another vertical phasing consideration involves the relative velocity between the approaching upper flight pin 86a and the top or trailing edge of the document, which velocity should be low in order to prevent damage to the document while the flight pins accelerate it to belt velocity. Also, the lower flight pin 86b must pass the position of the lowest pusher rail 32b before pusher motion can begin, in order to prevent physical interference between the members. Similarly, the pusher mechanism must complete its full cycle, that is, extension and retraction, before the upper flight pin 86 advances to the uppermost pusher rail 32a.

FIGS. 10-12 inclusive illustrate in schematic form the relationship of the pusher rail to the flight pins during a typical sequence of events for document transfer. In FIG. 10 the document has just entered the changer device and the pusher is at its threshold of movement in the Z direction. The top flight pin 86a is 11.44 inches from the document guide and support surface 88. This last dimension is influenced by the width of the document, which in this example is the maximum of six inches. Also, the dimension takes into account the distance travelled by the upper flight pin 86a in the time it takes the document to complete its lateral motion, that is, from its position adjacent the pusher rails 32 to the point of impact on the vertical belts 64. Still another distance must be taken into account, namely the distance which is required in order to permit the document to accelerate to a predetermined velocity (for example, l2 feet/second) before the upper flight pin 86a contacts it. FIG. 11 illustrates this distance. In effect, the flight pins move at a constant velocity of 16 feet/- second and the document begins to accelerate to 12 feet/second. The upper pin catches up" to the document after both document and pins move through a distance required for contact.

In FIG. 11 it is assumed that the pusher has completed its extension and retraction cycle and is again in its start position. The document is at its initial impact point with the vertical belt. The uppermost flight pin has moved four inches closer to the support surface 88 during the time which has elasped from the condition depicted in FIG. and is now 7.44 inches therefrom. The upper flight pin 86a to document 11 distance is depicted as 1.44 inches, and is required in the present illustrative system for a 6 inch wide, 3 ounce document to insure pin-to-document contact at approximately a .5 inches above the support surface 88.

FIG. 12 illustrates the last-mentioned condition, wherein the uppermost flight pin 86a is at its initial contact point with the document. The document velocity at this point is 12 feet/second. The resulting impact velocity of 4 feet/second is effective in producing the desired document orientation without damaging the document trailing edge.

The description of the invention thus far has involved a single input direction changer device for handling a single stream of documents. The device depicted in FIG. 13 utilizes the same design philosophy as that taught hereinbefore, but has the capability of processing input documents arriving at the device from two paths. Basically, the dual insertion device of FIG. 13 combines the single input device of FIG. 2 with a like device arranged as its mirror-image. The components of the single input device on the right of FIG. 13 bear the same reference numerals as the similar components in FIG. 2. The components of the single input device on the left in FIG. 13 have been assigned primed reference numbers relating to the similar components on the right. The only exceptions to this notation are the barrel cam identified by a new reference numeral 57, which cam has a dual profile 55 and 55', and the mounting brackets 39, each of which have provision to mount two shafts 44 and 44' for supporting sliding members 38 and 38' respectively.

In the operation of the device depicted in FIG. 13, two streams of documents are transported to the device, synchronized such that they do not engage the horizontal vacuum belts l4 and 14' concurrently, but rather enter the device in alternate fashion. Thus, assuming that documents from the first stream enter the changer via belts 14, and those from the second stream, by way of belts 14', the initial document in the first pusher rails 32 and thrusting the initial document of the first stream onto the vertical belt 78 between two adjacent flight pins 86, which are arranged on 16-inch pitches. Similarly, in the next cycle of operation of the device of FIG. 13, cam follower 54' effects the extension of pusher rails 32', thereby causing the initial document from the second stream to contact the vertical belts 78' between two adjacent flight pins 86', also arranged l6 inches apart. Further assuming that the vertical belts 78 and 78' are synchronized such that corresponding flight pins on each belt traverse the respective faces of vacuum chambers 72 and 72' concurrently, the documents emerging from the dual insertion device will appear as being alternately spaced on 32-inch pitches. Stated another way, on each belt, every other compartment formed by adjacent flight pins will be occupied by stream will have its direction changed, followed by the 6 initial document in the second stream-The cam profiles 55 and 55' are 180 out of phase. The foregoing action is accomplished by cam follower 54 extending the a document, and the remaining compartments will be vacant. Moreover, if a compartment on belt 78 contains a document, the homologous compartment on belt 78 will be vacant, and vice versa.

Depending upon the particular application of the equipment, it may be desirable to converge the two streams of vertically moving documents into a stream of documents spaced on 16-inch pitches. To accomplish this, at a predetermined distance from the direction changer, the flight pins on both belts may be made to intercept and form a compartment that permits one of the vertical belts to gain control and push the documents located between the pins of the other vertical belt. The horizontal spacing of the flight pins on the vertical belts must be displaced such that intersection of the opposed 16-inch pitch spacing can occur without physical interference. Other applications oflthe present invention depicted in FIG. '13 may not require the merging of the two output streams, and in fact may specify that each of the streams of documents be directed to a different location for further processing.

In conclusion, the inventive concepts and implementations described herein have proved highly satisfactory in actual operative systems. However, as noted hereinbefore, it should be understood that changes and modifications thereof may be needed to suit particular requirements. Such changes and modifications, insofar as they are not departures from the truescope of the invention, are intended to be covered by the claims appended thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for changing the direction of a moving document through substantially a angle within parallel planes comprising:

first and second vacuum chambers operatively connected to generate an area of low atmospheric pressure adjacent respective face portions thereof,

at least first and second movingperforated belts operatively connected to contiguously traverse the respective face portions of said first and second vacuum chambers, said first and second belts being situated in proximity to each other and being physically oriented such that their respective directions of motion are substantially at right angles and lie within parallel planes, said first and second belts being adapted to transport said document respec tively into and out of said device,

the face portion of said first vacuum chamber including a plurality of elongated counterbores having at least one orifice therein, the perforations in said first belt being registered with said counterbores whereby a continuous vacuum pressure is exerted through said perforations on said document as it is transported into said device, 7

said second belt being of the timing variety normally having a plurality of teeth traversing the width of the underside thereof, each of the teeth of said second belt being modified by the removal of the midsection thereof down to its root depth, forming separate tooth portions on either side of said midsection,

said face portion of said second vacuum chamber including at least one elongated island having a grooved area on either side thereof, and being recessed below the adjacent surfaces of said face portion, said island meshing with the apertures created by the absence of said tooth midsections, said separate tooth portions being disposed in respective ones of said grooved areas, the top surface of said second belt being slightly recessed with respect to said adjacent surfaces of said face portion,

said island having a plurality of counterbores having at least one orifice therein, the perforations in said second belt being registered with said counterbores whereby a vacuum pressure is exerted through said perforations on the document as it is being transported out of said device,

a pusher assembly comprising a plurality of pusher rails positioned adjacent said face portion of said first vacuum chamber and being intermeshed with said first belt, said pusher rails being capable of assuming an extended position above and a retracted position below the surface of said firstbelt,

control means coupled to said pusher assembly and being operatively connected for causing said pusher rails to assume said extended position at predetermined times with respect to a document traversing said face portion of said first vacuum chamber so as to thrust said document toward said second belt, said control means being further adapted to subsequently cause said pusher rails to assume said retracted position in preparation for the succeeding cycle of direction change.

2. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said second belt is fitted with a plurality of flight pins havinga predetermined pitch, adjacent flight pins forming a compartment for receiving a document, a flight pin in each of'said compartments being adapted to contact said document while the latter is still in said device in order to control its orientation and minimize skewing.

3. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 2 wherein said pusher assembly further includes a supporting structure to which said pusher rails are affixed, said supporting structure being attached to sliding members and being capable of moving in a direction approximately at right angles to the surface of said first belt, and a cam follower attached to said supporting structure.

4. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 3 wherein said control means is a barrel cam, said cam follower engaging the profile of said cam.

5. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 4 wherein said cam profile has a cycloidal acceleration characteristic.

6. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 5 7 further including a rotating brush assembly-positioned at the entrance to said device and contacting said first belt for assisting the entry of said document into said device.

7. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 6 further including a document stop positioned so as to prevent a document having excessive energy in its initial direction from leaving the effective area of the device.

8. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 7 further characterized in that the direction of motion of said first belt is such that said document is transported into said device in a substantially horizontal direction and the direction of motion of said second belt is such that said document is transported out of said device in a substantially vertical direction.

9. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said first vacuum chamber is comprised of a plurality of spaced-apart but interconnected sections each capable of generating an area of low atmospheric pressure adjacent respective face portions thereof, and a plurality of first moving perforated belts arranged in spaced-apart, side-by-side relation and being operatively connected to traverse the respective face portions of said sections of said first vacuum chamber, said plurality of pusher rails being intermeshed with said last-mentioned plurality of perforated belts.

10. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 9 further characterized in that said face portion of said second vacuum chamber includes a plurality of said recessed elongated islandssituated in spaced-apart relation, and a plurality of second moving perforated belts arranged in spaced-apart, 'side-by-side relation and being operatively connected to contiguously traverse the respective surfaces of said islands.

11. A dual input device for changing the direction of at least a pair of moving documents arriving in synchronized alternate fashion at the respective inputs thereof, comprising:

first, second, third and fourth vacuum chambers operatively connected to generate an area of low atmospheric pressure adjacent respective face portions'thereof, at least first, second, third and fourth moving perforated belts operatively connected to contiguously traverse the respective face portions of said first, second, third and fourth vacuum chambers,

said first and second belts being situated in proximity to each other and. being physically oriented such that their respective directions of motion are substantially at right angles and lie within parallel planes, said first and second belts being adapted to transport a first of said pair of documents respectively into and out of .said device,

said third and fourth belts being situated in proximity to each other and being physically oriented such that their respective directions of motion are substantially at right angles and lie within parallel planes, said thirdand fourth belts being adapted to transport a second of said pair of documents respectively into and out of said device,

a pair of pusher assemblies each comprising a plurality of pusher rails positioned adjacent the respective face portions of said first and third vacuum chambers and being intermeshed respectively with said first and third belts, each of said plurality of pusher rails being capable of assuming an extended position above and a retracted position below the belt with which it intermeshes,

control means coupled to each of said pair of pusher assemblies and being operatively connected for causing said pusher rails to alternately assume said extended position at predetermined times with respect to documents traversing respectively said face portions of said first and third vacuum chambers so as to thrust said documents respectively toward said second and fourth belts, said control means being further adapted to subsequently cause said pusher rails to alternately assume said retracted position in preparation for succeeding cycles of direction change.

12. A dual input direction-changing device as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said pusher assemblies includes a supporting structure to which said pusher rails are affixed, the supporting structures of said pair of pusher assemblies being attached respectively to sliding members and being capable of moving in directions approximately at right angles to the respective surfaces of said first and third belts, and cam followers attached respectively to said supporting structures.

13. A dual input direction-changing device as defined in claim 12 wherein said control means is a barrel cam having dual profiled which are displaced apart from each other, said cam followers engaging respectively said dual profiles.

14. A dual input direction-changing device as defined in claim 13 wherin said second and fourth belts are fitted with a plurality of flight pins arranged on like predetermined pitches, said second and fourth belts being synchronized such that corresponding flight pins on each of said last-mentioned belts traverse the respective second and fourth vacuum chambers concurrently, adjacent flight pins on each of said second and fourth belts forming compartments for receiving documents respectively from said pair of device inputs, the alternate extension of said pusher assemblies by said control means resulting in the placing of the first of said pair of documents in a first of said compartments on said second belt, the homologous first compartment of said fourth belt remaining empty, and of subsequently placing the second of said pair of documents in a second of said compartments on said fourth belt, the homologous second compartment of said second belt remaining 

1. A device for changing the direction of a moving document through substantially a 90* angle within parallel planes comprising: first and second vacuum chambers operatively connected to generate an area Of low atmospheric pressure adjacent respective face portions thereof, at least first and second moving perforated belts operatively connected to contiguously traverse the respective face portions of said first and second vacuum chambers, said first and second belts being situated in proximity to each other and being physically oriented such that their respective directions of motion are substantially at right angles and lie within parallel planes, said first and second belts being adapted to transport said document respectively into and out of said device, the face portion of said first vacuum chamber including a plurality of elongated counterbores having at least one orifice therein, the perforations in said first belt being registered with said counterbores whereby a continuous vacuum pressure is exerted through said perforations on said document as it is transported into said device, said second belt being of the timing variety normally having a plurality of teeth traversing the width of the underside thereof, each of the teeth of said second belt being modified by the removal of the midsection thereof down to its root depth, forming separate tooth portions on either side of said midsection, said face portion of said second vacuum chamber including at least one elongated island having a grooved area on either side thereof, and being recessed below the adjacent surfaces of said face portion, said island meshing with the apertures created by the absence of said tooth midsections, said separate tooth portions being disposed in respective ones of said grooved areas, the top surface of said second belt being slightly recessed with respect to said adjacent surfaces of said face portion, said island having a plurality of counterbores having at least one orifice therein, the perforations in said second belt being registered with said counterbores whereby a vacuum pressure is exerted through said perforations on the document as it is being transported out of said device, a pusher assembly comprising a plurality of pusher rails positioned adjacent said face portion of said first vacuum chamber and being intermeshed with said first belt, said pusher rails being capable of assuming an extended position above and a retracted position below the surface of said first belt, control means coupled to said pusher assembly and being operatively connected for causing said pusher rails to assume said extended position at predetermined times with respect to a document traversing said face portion of said first vacuum chamber so as to thrust said document toward said second belt, said control means being further adapted to subsequently cause said pusher rails to assume said retracted position in preparation for the succeeding cycle of direction change.
 2. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said second belt is fitted with a plurality of flight pins having a predetermined pitch, adjacent flight pins forming a compartment for receiving a document, a flight pin in each of said compartments being adapted to contact said document while the latter is still in said device in order to control its orientation and minimize skewing.
 3. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 2 wherein said pusher assembly further includes a supporting structure to which said pusher rails are affixed, said supporting structure being attached to sliding members and being capable of moving in a direction approximately at right angles to the surface of said first belt, and a cam follower attached to said supporting structure.
 4. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 3 wherein said control means is a barrel cam, said cam follower engaging the profile of said cam.
 5. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 4 wherein said cam profile has a cycloidal acceleration characteristic.
 6. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 5 further including a rotating brush assembly positioned at the entrance to said device and contacting said first belt for assisting the entry of said document into said device.
 7. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 6 further including a document stop positioned so as to prevent a document having excessive energy in its initial direction from leaving the effective area of the device.
 8. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 7 further characterized in that the direction of motion of said first belt is such that said document is transported into said device in a substantially horizontal direction and the direction of motion of said second belt is such that said document is transported out of said device in a substantially vertical direction.
 9. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said first vacuum chamber is comprised of a plurality of spaced-apart but interconnected sections each capable of generating an area of low atmospheric pressure adjacent respective face portions thereof, and a plurality of ''''first'''' moving perforated belts arranged in spaced-apart, side-by-side relation and being operatively connected to traverse the respective face portions of said sections of said first vacuum chamber, said plurality of pusher rails being intermeshed with said last-mentioned plurality of perforated belts.
 10. A direction-changing device as defined in claim 9 further characterized in that said face portion of said second vacuum chamber includes a plurality of said recessed elongated islands situated in spaced-apart relation, and a plurality of ''''second'''' moving perforated belts arranged in spaced-apart, side-by-side relation and being operatively connected to contiguously traverse the respective surfaces of said islands.
 11. A dual input device for changing the direction of at least a pair of moving documents arriving in synchronized alternate fashion at the respective inputs thereof, comprising: first, second, third and fourth vacuum chambers operatively connected to generate an area of low atmospheric pressure adjacent respective face portions thereof, at least first, second, third and fourth moving perforated belts operatively connected to contiguously traverse the respective face portions of said first, second, third and fourth vacuum chambers, said first and second belts being situated in proximity to each other and being physically oriented such that their respective directions of motion are substantially at right angles and lie within parallel planes, said first and second belts being adapted to transport a first of said pair of documents respectively into and out of said device, said third and fourth belts being situated in proximity to each other and being physically oriented such that their respective directions of motion are substantially at right angles and lie within parallel planes, said third and fourth belts being adapted to transport a second of said pair of documents respectively into and out of said device, a pair of pusher assemblies each comprising a plurality of pusher rails positioned adjacent the respective face portions of said first and third vacuum chambers and being intermeshed respectively with said first and third belts, each of said plurality of pusher rails being capable of assuming an extended position above and a retracted position below the belt with which it intermeshes, control means coupled to each of said pair of pusher assemblies and being operatively connected for causing said pusher rails to alternately assume said extended position at predetermined times with respect to documents traversing respectively said face portions of said first and third vacuum chambers so as to thrust said documents respectively toward said second and fourth belts, said control means being further adapted to subsequently cause said pusher rails to alternately assume said retracted position in preparation for succeeding cycles of direction change.
 12. A dual input direction-changing device as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said pusher assemblies inCludes a supporting structure to which said pusher rails are affixed, the supporting structures of said pair of pusher assemblies being attached respectively to sliding members and being capable of moving in directions approximately at right angles to the respective surfaces of said first and third belts, and cam followers attached respectively to said supporting structures.
 13. A dual input direction-changing device as defined in claim 12 wherein said control means is a barrel cam having dual profiles which are displaced 180* apart from each other, said cam followers engaging respectively said dual profiles.
 14. A dual input direction-changing device as defined in claim 13 wherin said second and fourth belts are fitted with a plurality of flight pins arranged on like predetermined pitches, said second and fourth belts being synchronized such that corresponding flight pins on each of said last-mentioned belts traverse the respective second and fourth vacuum chambers concurrently, adjacent flight pins on each of said second and fourth belts forming compartments for receiving documents respectively from said pair of device inputs, the alternate extension of said pusher assemblies by said control means resulting in the placing of the first of said pair of documents in a first of said compartments on said second belt, the homologous first compartment of said fourth belt remaining empty, and of subsequently placing the second of said pair of documents in a second of said compartments on said fourth belt, the homologous second compartment of said second belt remaining empty. 